Harrison said four officers saw something happen at the scene while on routine patrol and got out and tried to make a stop when a suspect opened fire, striking the officer several times. There was only one gunman, he said.

The officer’s name hasn’t been released.

There was a large police presence in an apartment complex near where the shooting happened.

New Orleans Police, Louisiana State Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had investigators at the scene.